Racks for holding wine glasses and like articles



Feb. 27, 1962 A. R. UNSWORTH RACKS FOR HOLDING WINE GLASSES AND LIKEARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 8, 1960 ALAN RENE Attorneys Feb.27, 1962 A. R. UNSWORTH 3,022,899

RACKS FOR HOLDING WINE GLASSES AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed March 8, 1960 3Sheets-Sheet 2 ALAN RENE z/NTi "Eihm 026%; 2 0

A ttorneys Feb. 27, 1962 A. R. UNSWORTH 3,022,399

RACKS FOR HOLDING WINE GLASSES AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed March 8, 1960 3SheetsSheet 3 ALAN RENE ulv 'wo'lzm M $3M A ttorneyS Unite Filed Mar. 8,1960, Ser. No. 13,680 2 Claims. (Cl. 211-71) This invention relates toracks for holding wine glasses and like articles and has for its primaryobject to provide an improved rack adapted to support a plurality ofglasses in inverted positions such that the drying of same after washingis expedited and the necessity to use a drying cloth or towel isobviated. A further aim of the invention is to provide a rack which maybe used with advantage for storage purposes.

According to my invention, and in one mode of embodiment, a rackcomprises a pair or pairs of rails of any suitable cross-sectionalshape, said rails being located in spaced and parallel disposition at adistance apart which permits the passage therebetween of the stem of awine glass but not the base thereof, and preferably the configurationand disposition of said rails is such that the stems of wine glasses tobe supported may be entered therebetween at one intermediate point inthe rack structure in addition to an end or ends thereof.

Brackets are provided for supporting said parallel support rails inrequired disposition such brackets being adapted for securing theappliance to a wall, beneath a shelf, or in other required situation.

The invention is further described with the aid of the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate, by way of example only and not of limitation,one mode of embodiment.

In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a glass holding rack structure and FIG.2 is a part sectional elevation of same fitted below a shelf.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken as on line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevation of one of the brackets.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing two of the glass-supporting railsdissociated from their holding brackets.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the adjoining ends of pairs ofglass-supporting members.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the method of engaging ordisengaging a wine glass from the support rails.

Referring now to said drawings, a wine glass support structure or rackcomprises two or more brackets which are generally designated and eachconsisting of a crosspiece 10 apertured at 10 (FIG. 3) and two dependingleg pieces 10 which have their inwardly facing surfaces formed withslots 10 The aperture 10 is for the passage of a screw 11 (FIG. 3)whereby said brackets may be secured in appropriately spaced dispositionto the underside of, for example, a shelf y. Said brackets 10 areadapted to support pairs of opposed rail members 12 which have endpieces shaped as at 12*- for engagement with the slots 10 of brackets 10whereby said rails are firmly held in spaced and parallel disposition topermit of wine glasses x being suspended therebetween in the mannershown in FIG. 3.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4 the slots 10 of brackets 10 arepreferably formed at an inclination to the horizontal whereby said rails12 are located with their transverse axes at an inclination and theglasses supported therebetween make edge contact only with the railsthereby to decrease frictional resistance to sliding.

Each of said rail members 12 has one down-turned tates atet FatentedFeb. 27, 1962 terminal end 12. which isarranged to be adjacent thestraight end 12 of a next succeeding rail and when pairs of said railsare connected in longitudinal alignment by the brackets 10 the space 13between said ends 12, 12 provide an inclined entry and exit point (seemore particularly FIGS. 2 and 7) which permits the base x of a wineglass to be passed therethrough providedsaid glass Thus, by reason of isheld at the appropriate angle. the shape and disposition of theadjoining ends of said pairs of rails, glasses may be slid freely fromOne pair of rails to another over the entry and exit point 13 withoutany danger of the glasses becoming accidentally disengaged, but mayreadily be disengaged therefrom as and when required.

It will be seen that a glass holding rack according to the invention maycomprise two brackets 10 and a single .pair of opposed rails 12, or, anynumber of pairs of bracket-supported rails 12 may be disposed inend-to-end alignment to provide a continuous glass-supporting structurewith entry and exit points for said glasses at each rail juncture.

In some cases said brackets 10 may be formed in two separate orrelatively adjustable parts thereby to enable the rail members 12 to belaterally spaced to suit a particular size of wine glass. Alternatively,said rails 12 may be made in varying widths with the same object inview.

in the use of a rack structure according to my invention, it is onlynecessary to enter the stems of wine glasses or similar articles betweensaid rail members, either from an end or via one of the intermediateopenings, and allow same to hang suspended by their bases in invertedpositions. When so suspended, washed glasses quickly drain and dry withno necessity for wiping and if left in said rack their invertedpositions prevent the collection of dust.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rack structure for supporting wine glasses and the like in pendantposition comprising a plurality of brackets each consisting of across-piece aperture to receive securing screws and having two dependingleg pieces with the inwardly facing surfaces thereof being formed slots,pairs of opposed rail members supported by said brackets in end to endspaced aligned disposition with each end of each rail having a partengaged within the slot of the adjacent bracket of said brackets andeach of said rails having one down-turned terminal end disposed adjacentto a straight end of the next succeeding rail to provide a downwardlyinclined entry and exit opening whereby the base of a wine glass canpass therethrough when the wine glass is held at the appropriate angle.

2. A rack structure for wine glasses and the like as claimed in claim 1,wherein said slots of the brackets are formed at an angle to the axis ofsaid leg pieces and locate said rails with their transverse axes at aninclination to said leg pieces whereby the bases of glasses supporltledbetween said rails make edge contact only therewit References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Australia Nov. 10. 1953

